Tory leader faces watchdog probe

Britain's Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith tonight faced a further investigation into allegations that he improperly employed his wife.

Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Sir Philip Mawer’s decision will come as a blow to Mr Duncan Smith.

The Tory leader submitted a 40-page dossier to Sir Philip in an effort to prove there was no case to answer.

However, Sir Philip said in a statement: “The nature of the information given to me – some of which is from anonymous sources – makes it necessary.”

He stressed: “The fact that I am making further inquiries … does not imply that I regard the allegations against Mr Duncan Smith as substantiated, simply that I need additional information in order to be able to evaluate them properly.”

Mr Duncan Smith dismissed his critics as "cowards in the shadows'' trying to attack him through his wife, and said he was confident he would be exonerated by the inquiry.

He passionately defended his wife’s position, accusing anonymous opponents of trying to attack him through accusations against her.

The Conservative leader, in a series of TV interviews, said: “These cowards have gone after my wife as a way of getting after me and I think it’s intolerable. I love my wife deeply.

“Anybody who wants to come after me, come after me but don’t go after my wife. I will never ever use my wife as a tool in my political life.”